Game apparatus



y 1938- w. R. EDGEWORTH 2,125,236

GAME APPARATUS FiledfApril 20, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 26, 1938 PATENT OFFICE GAME APPARATUS William R. Edgeworth, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Rubini Cigar Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April '20, 1936, Serial No. 75,482

28 Claims.

This invention relates to game apparatus, and more particularly pertains to such apparatus which is controlled through the intermediation of a token, such as a coin, and has to do-with 5 such a game in which dice or similar elements are employed.

The apparatus of the invention is mainly concerned with automatically playing the well known dice game known as twenty six, which, as a rule, is played by throw of the dice.

The game of twenty six as played by hand, comprises the following order of play in scoring.

First a player must choose one or more characters of the dice, of which ten are employed, for his point or points upon which his score or scores are to be determined, the player being allowed to throw the dice thirteen times. After each throw of the dice, the number of same displaying a character chosen by the player is recorded on a score sheet. Then upon completion of the thirteenth throw of the dice, if the total of any point exceeds twenty six, the player wins.

' It is one object of the invention to provide such a game apparatus that will automatically play the game as outlined, through the intermediation of a token or coin for each point chosen, and wherein the total or totals of the point -or points scored will be registered during the process of the game until thirteen throws of the dice have been effected.

Although the invention is mainly concerned with the garne of twenty six, the invention is not to be so limited because of its adaptability to other dice games, such as the 'well known bunco game. 1

Further, the games may be played with cubes having sides differently colored in place of numerals, because the scoring is determined by the number of times a given character appears on the dice after thirteen throws thereof.

The above objects will become apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings and the specification as follows.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the apparatus, as maybe taken on the section line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic elevation of the coin control or coin head meansof the apparatus, as may be taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, showing certain parts in full lines and other parts in dot and dash lines.

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5-5. of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan section of certain parts of Fig. 3, as may be taken on the section line 6-6 of said figure.

Fig. '7 is a detail'plan view of the apparatus, with parts broken away, parts in section and other parts shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 8 is a vertical detail section of the apparatus, as may be taken substantially on the section line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a die employed in the game apparatus.

Fig. 10 is a detail section of the die, as taken on the section line Iill0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. '11 is a detail section of the die, as taken on the section line ll-ll of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is another detail section of the die, as taken on the section line lZ-IZ of Fig. 9.

'Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic plan section of Fig. 8, as taken substantially on the section line I3|3 of said figure with parts omitted, parts broken away and other parts shown in diagram and in changed position.

Fig. 14 is a detail view of a portion of Fig. '7, showing certain parts in full and other parts in changed position.

Fig. 15 is a detail vertical section of Fig. 13, as taken substantially on the section line I5--I5 of said figure.

Fig. 16 is a circuit diagram of electrically operated means of the invention.

The apparatus includes a box-like housing I, whose top 2 has a depressed portion 3 forming an enclosure-4 with the glass top cover 5, within which enclosure ten dice 6 are confined to be automatically played. In the depressed portion 3 of the top is a circular opening 1, within which is arranged to rotate, a turn-table or disc 8, which is mounted on the top end of a vertical shaft 9 rotatably mounted in spaced bearings Ill and II of a frame-work l2 in the housing. The turn-table is rotated by an electric motor l3 (see Fig. 7), whose drive pulley I4 drives a grooved pulley I5 on the turn-table shaft 9, through the intermediation of a belt H5.

The top surface of the turn-table is flush with the top surface of the depressed portion 3, and is provided with a fabric covering to cause the dice confined thereon to be tumbled over and over as the table rotates. The dice are confined on the turn-table by annular retaining wall ll, of the depressed portion 3, which is disposed concentric with the table and arranged slightly outward of the opening! of the depressed portion.

After the dice have been tumbled over on the turn-table for a certain length of time, they are caused to be urged by centrifugal force against the retaining wall i1, and along which wall they are directed into a trap at a given stationin cooperative relation with means ar.- ranged to register the number of dice displaying a certain character or characters. I

The trap includes a segmental arcuate guide wall it disposed concentric with and arranged inward of the retaining wall H, and having brackets G9 at its ends secured to said wall for mounting. The trap may also include a glasstop secured under the brackets i9. Gate means is provided for the trap, which is arranged to control the entrance A and exit or outlet B thereof whereby the entrance is closed and the exit open during a given number of turns of the turn-table so that the dice may be sufliciently tumbled on the turn-table before they are caused to enter the trap. Upon being so tumbled, the dice are caused to enter the trap upon opening of the entrance thereof, at which time the exit of the trap is closed. The gate comprises an arouate gate lever 29 disposed outsideof the portion of the retaining wall l1 adjacent the trap, and is mounted at its central portion on the top end of a vertical shaft 2| suitably mounted in bearings of the frame-work [2. At one end of the lever 20 is an entrance gate portion 22, in the form of a pointed hook, that is caused to project through a slot 23 in the wall ll to close the entrance of the trap when the gate lever is turned counter-clockwise, as seen in plan. At the other end of the gate lever is an exit gate portion 24, in the form of a hook, that .is caused to project through the slot 23 in the wall I? to close the exit of the trap when the gate lever is moved in a clockwise direction, as seen in plan.

Means for operating the gate lever will be described later.

The means for registering the characters displayed on the dice when in the trap, includes the following.

In order that mechanical means may be employed for determining the characters appearing on the dice in the trap, each die (see Figs. 9 to 12,) is provided with an aperture 25 in each side thereof, with the exception of the sidethereof displaying the six, that is of a depth characteristic of the number appearing on the opposite side. In other words, the depths of the apertures will proportionately increase from that in- I mounted in bearings of two vertically spaced upper and lower horizontal support plates 2] and a 28, respectively, which, are'secured by. upright posts 28a to the base of the frame-work, I2. The lower end of each feelerpin is in. slidable pivotal connection with one end of a circuit continuing contact lever 29 which is fulcrumed intermediate its ends, asat 30, on a supportpost 3i, and which lever extends angularly upward toward the axis of the turn-table with a resilient contactor 32 at its inner end in constant engagement with the periphery of an electric controller drum 33 which isoscillatably mounted on the turntable shaft 9.

Generally, the controller drum 33 is arranged, or provided, with switching means 34 which, upon oscillation of the drum at the proper time, cooperates with electrically operated registering means 35 in recording the number of dice displaying acertain character or characters in the 3 trap, as determined by the position of the feeler pins in the apertures of the dice.

The feeler pins 26 are normally held positively in lowered position; with their top ends slightly below the plane of the top surface of the turntable, by means of a vertically reciprocable crosshead 36. The cross-head comprises a. vertical plate 31, formed arcuately about the axis of the turn-table, with a top flange 38 through which the pins 26 project with a collar 39 on each pin resiliently held against the underside of the flange 38 by a coiled spring 46, which spring is interposed between the collar and the support plate 28. The cross-head plate 3'! is mounted for vertical reciprocation upon a vertical guide rod Al on which the elongated bearing sleeve 42 of the plate is slidably received. The plate 31 is also guided along the arcuateinner edge '63 of the lower support plate 28, whereby it is held in position with respect to the feeler pins. Thus when the cross-head is raised, as seen in Fig. 15, the feeler pins may assume various positions by their engagement with the dice in the trap, and

when the cross-head is lowered, all the pins are returned to their normal starting position.

44 which is loosely fulcrumed on the turn-table shaft 9, below the drum. The latch arm has a hooked end 440. which is guided in agroove of a guide block 45 on the, support plate 28, and is arranged to be resiliently urged into a notch 46 in one end of the cross-head plate 3?, by means of a tension spring When the latch arm is operated to release the cross-head,-in the manner later described, the head is raised by a compression spring 48 which surrounds the guide rod 41 and is interposed between the cross-head sleeve 42 and the. base, of the rod.

The latch arm 44 is operated to release the cross-head and the cross-head iscaused to be returned to its lower position by the following means. f Loosely mounted on the turn-table shaft 9 above the drum 33, isan operator arm 5E which is oscillated by a crank device 5!, through the connecting link 52, so as to pass back and forth over thecontaot levers 29. v The crank device comprises a gear, suitably mounted to rotate, which is in mesh with, so as to be driven by, the drive pinion em on the drive shaft. of an electric motor 5| b.

As the operator arm 5!] is about to complete a stroke int-he direction of the latch arm, as seen in Fig. '7, it engages 8. lug 53'on the latch arm and moves same therewith'torelease the hooked end 44a thereof from the notch of the cross-head, whereupon the feeler pins are elevated into the dice in the trap. When the cross head is in its raised position, the latch arm is held in its releasing position'by its engagement with the end of the head.

When at the other end of its stroke, as's een in Fig. 14,'the operator arm operates upon the cam end 54 of a cross-head control lever 55 which lowers the cross-head. The lever 55 has sliding connection at its central portion with the crosshead sleeve, as at 59, and is fulcrumed at its end opposite the cam thereon on the lower support plate 28, as at 5?.

The operator arm 59 also controls the operation of the gate lever 2i] in time relation with the feeler pins 26. To this end, as the operator arm is depressing the cross-head operating lever 55, to lower the feeler pins, as seen in Fig. 14', it also has camming engagement with the cam end 59 of a gate control lever 59 in cooperating therewith to rock the gate lever 29 so that its gate portion 22 is projected across the entrance of the trap, and whereupon its exit gate portion is withdrawn from the exit of the trap. The gate control lever 59 is centrally secured on the gate shaft 2!, and has an arm extension $9 opposite its cam end arranged to be engaged by the-hooked end 6! of a spring pressed trigger 62, to cooperate therewith in holding the gate lever 20 in its position closing the entrance of the trap against the tension of a tension spring 63 suitably connected with the control lever. The trigger 62 is pivoted,

as at 69, on the upper support plate 2?, and has a cam arm extension 65 for cooperative engagement with the operator arm 59 to cause the release of the gate lever.

The gate lever 2E3 remains in its position closing the entrance of the trap while the operator arm is returning toward the other end of its stroke in the direction of the latch arm M, and just prior to its engagement with the latch arm, the operator arm engages the cam arm 65 of the trigger to release same, whereupon the gate lever is moved by the spring 63 to effect the opening and closing of the entrance and exit of the trap respectively, as seen in Fig. 7.

The controller drum 33 and the registering means 95 controlled thereby as determined by the position of the feeler pins in the dice when same are in the trap, will now be described. The registering means includes seven similar dial devices 66, iii, 68, 59, ll H and '52, which, with the exception of the last mentioned, are arranged to respectively register the totals relating to the number of dice displaying the ace, two, three, four, five and six after each trapping operation of the dice. The dial devices are located in a row directly below the depressed portion 3 of the housing. In the depressed portion 3 of the housing is a suitable total indicating window lZa for each dial device. The dials S6 to i l inclusive, are arranged with numerals from to 38 preferably. The dial device 12 is adapted to register the number of cycles of operation of the apparatus, and is arranged to cooperate with token or coin control means in maintaining the apparatus operative until thirteen recording operations have been completed.

Each dial device comprises a dial mounted on a suitably supported shaft 73, on which one end or" a clock spring it is connected with its other end anchored so as to urge the dial in a direction returning same to its starting position with the 0 thereof appearing at its window. Each dial is held in its said position by a stop 15 which limits the movement of a pin 78 on each dial. Each dial is provided with a ratchet wheel TI thereunder which is operated to advance the dial by a pawl '58 pivotally connected to one end of the sliding core 1'19 of a solenoid 89. Upon energization of a solenoid, its dial is advanced one step, in which position the dial is held against the tension of its spring, by a spring pressed holding dog 8| pivoted suitably at 82.

Mounted radially in the insulating section 33 of the controller drum 33, and arranged in spaced relation vertically with contact surfaces flush with the periphery of the drum, are circuit continuing contacts 84, 85, 86, 81, 88 and 89, reading from the upper to the lower, which are respectively in electric circuit connection, through conductors 90, with one side of the solenoids of the dials 96 to H, which are representative of the ace to the six, respectively, of the dice. The other side of the solenoids of the score recording dials are connected to one side of the power lines 9!, from which continues a main conductor am having branches 9lb connected to the solenoids. The other side of the power lines is grounded to the frame 52 of the apparatus in completing circuit connection to the solenoids as well as to the motors i 3 and H) driving the turn-table and operator arm.

Thus, assuming that there are three dice in the trap showing the ace, the resilient contactors of the levers 29 operated by the feeler pins, are lowered into the plane of the drum contact 34 representative of the ace dial, when the pins are raised into contact with the dice. Then, when the drum is oscillated with the operator arm, in a manner later described, when same returns after releasing the latch arm, said drum contact is caused to engage each of the contactors of the levers 29 successively, whereupon the solenoid of the ace dial is energized three times to cause the dial to register 3.

The operator arm is connected with the drum 33, directly above the contacts thereof, by being engaged in a notch 93 in the insulating section 83 of the drum.

Each dial device 66 to 1!, inclusive, is rendered operable through deposit of a token or coin in coin controlled means, which also renders the playing apparatus operative until thirteen recording operations of the dice have been completed, or in other words, until the operator arm 59 has completed thirteen oscillations.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, the coin controlled means comprises a coin slot head 94 mounted under the top 2 of the housing, and is arranged to extend alongside the row of dial devices. The coin head has six aligned coin slots 95 spaced in accordance with the dial devices 66 to H, so as to be representative thereof respectively. Each coin slot continues downward to the mid portion of the head, from which point it continues horizontally, as at 96, for a short distance, then again continues downward into an outlet portion 91. Slidably mounted in the side of the coin head are two spaced and interconnected coin actuated bars 98, which intercept one side of the horizontal coin slot porion 96. Slidably mounted between the bars 98 is a coin actuator bar 99 adapted to actuate the bars $3 by way of a coin 9964. When a coin is deposited in a coin slot, it is confined in the portion 96. thereof, and is interposed loosely between a pin It!!! on the bar 99 and a pin Hll on each bar 93, whereby, when the bar 99 is advanced, by manual manipulation of its handle Hill), the coin is advanced to a position over the outlet portion of the slot and the bars 98 are in turn advanced thereby with the bar 99. When the coin actuator bar 99 is returned, by means of a suitable tension spring I03 connected therewith, the positioned coin is caused to drop into the exit portion of the slot, and is caused to remain therein for cooperating with switching means in rendering its respective dial device operative. The coin is retained in the slot outlet by its engagement with a stop pin iIM on a spring urged coin retaining bar I05 which is slidably mounted in the side of the coin slot head so as to intercept the outlet, as seen in Fig. 3.

The switching means for cooperating with a coin in the outlet of a slot includes the followmg.

Extending along the side of the coin slot head, and arranged adjacent a coin actuated bar 98 so as to be operated thereby, is a movable switchcarrier bar I98, which is pivotally mounted to the head, as at I91, so as to swing toward or away from the head. On the carrier bar are mounted six switches I98 included in the conductors 9ib of the solenoids of the dice recording dials respectively, and each of which is arranged to cooperate with a coin in the outlet of a slot in completing the circuit to its respective dial device solenoid, when the carrier bar is moved toward the coin head, and which movement of the carrier is effected by the coin actuated bars 98 when same are retracted.

Each switch IE8 includes two adjacent normally spaced leaf spring contact members I98a and I081) which depend from the carrier with a coin contactor HI, of insulating material, on the end of the member I881) for projecting through an aperture I I2 in the side of the outlet of its respective coin slot for engaging a coin therein, in causing the members to contact and close the circuit to their respective solenoid when the carrier is swung toward the head.

The carrier bar is normally held against the side of the coin head by means of a tension spring 2 I3 suitably connected therewith, and the carrier is moved away from the head in opening the switches I98, by means of its camming engagement with a suitably formed cam H4 on one of the coin actuated bars 98, when said bars are advanced through intermediation of a coin only.

When the coin actuated bars 98 are about to complete their forward strokes, the connecting member I I5 at the ends thereof causes the open ing of a normally closed switch H6 inoiuded in the main conductor 9Ia between its branches SI!) and its power line connection, whereby'all the electrically operated devices of the game apparatus are rendered inoperative when a coin is being deposited in the outlet of a coin slot. The said switch H6 is of a type similar to the switches I08, with the exception that the contact members are normally in contact, with one being extended for engagement with the end of the member H5, in causing separation thereof.

The cycle recording dial device 72, generally described in the foregoing, is operably connected with the latch arm 4 and the motors I3 and 5Ib, to respectively record the number of cycles of operation of the operator arm 59 until thirteen cycles have been completed, and to then open the circuit to the motors in rendering the apparatus inoperative until a coin has been deposited in a slot of the coin slot head, and then deflected by the coin actuator bar into the outlet of the slot.

In'that each dice recording operation of the apparatus constitutes what may be termed a shake of the dice, as played by hand, the dial 12 may be termed a shake recording device.

To this end, one side of the solenoid 80 of the dial 12 is connected by a conductor II'I to one side of a normally open leaf spring switch H8, comprising two adjacent contact members suitably mounted on the lower support plate 28, whose other side is grounded to the frame, as at II 9. The other side of said solenoid is connected to a branch I of the main conductor 9Ia, in which branch is a leaf spring switch i2I controlled by the dial device I2.

The switch II 8 is so arranged in cooperative relation with the latch arm, as .to be closed by engagement therewith when same is released by the operator arm at one end of its stroke, to close the circuit to the solenoid of the shake recording dial in recording the number of strokes of the arm. a

When the shake recording dial registers thirteen recording operations of the dice, it causes the switch I2I to open the circuit to the'solenoid thereof, whereupon the recording operation ceases and the motors I3 and SI?) are rendered inoperative until the introduction of another token or coin in the head 94.

The switch iZI comprises two normally contacting spring contact members, with one arranged to extend into the path of a pin I22 of the dial I2, so as to be actuated thereby causing the switch to open when the dial records thirteen cycles of operation of the apparatus.

The switch I2I also controls the circuit to the turn-table motor IS, in that one side of the motor is connected to the frame, or ground, and its other side is connected by a conductor I23 to the branch I29 of the main conductor 9Ia by way of the switch I2I.

Circuit connection to the motor 5W0, for the operator arm 58, is controlled by the dice in the trap, the gate lever 29 and the switch IZI. To this end, one side of the motor 5Ib is connected to the frame, or ground, and its other side is connected by a conductor I28 to the main power line conductor 9Ia, by way of the conductor I23 and the switch I2I. Included in the conductor I24 is a leaf spring switch I25 mounted on the support plate 27 for controlling the operation of the motor in accordance with the operation of the gate. The switch I25 includes two self closing terminals, of which one is extended into the path of a pin I28 on the gate operating lever 59, so as to be engaged thereby in causing the switch to open when the gate is operated to open the entrance of the trap and close its exit in effecting the trapping of the dice, as seen in Fig. '7.

In'that the gate is opened by the release of the trigger 62, effected by the operator arm 50 just prior toits engagement with the latch arm 44, the operator arm will be caused to stop functioning before completing its, stroke between its engagement with the trigger and the latch arm, as seen in Fig. 7.. The operator arm will remain in this position, about to engage the latch arm, with the entrance of the trap open to receive the dice and the feeler pins lowered, until all of the ten dice are urged by the turn-table into the trap. When the dice are disposed in the trap, they are caused to respectively close ten similar leaf spring switches I21 in series connection in a conductor I28 in bridging connection between the motor conductors I23 and i24, on the motor sides thereof. Thus, when the dice controlled switches have been closed, the electric circuit to the motor 5Ib is again established to cause the operator arm to complete its stroke in releasing the latch arm to effect projection of the feeler pins into the dice preparatory to the recording thereof. When the operator arm returns from its engagement with the latch arm, it causes the contacts of the controller drum to cooperate with the resilient contactors 32 of the levers 29 in closing the circuits to the various dial devices as determined by the positions of the feeler pins in the dice, is causing the recording thereof, as heretofore generally described. At the end of its said return stroke, the operator arm again operates the gate lever toclose the entrance and open the exit of the trap,

' and also causes the feeler pins to be lowered, and

whereupon the switch I25 is again closed to reestablish circuit to the motor 5Ib, upon release of the dice from the trap, whereby the operator arm is returned to its starting position preparatory to another cycle of operation.

Each switch i2? is suitably mounted on the depressed top portion 3, at the outer side of that portion of the retaining wall I! forming the trap, so as to be operated by a die in the trap. Each of these switches includes two normally spaced spring contact members, of which one projects through the slot 23 in the retaining wall and into the trap, so as to be moved into contact with its other member by engagement with its respective die in the trap.

It will be seen that during the time the operator arm 59 is returning from the end of its stroke after causing the release of the dice from the trap, the dice so released onto the turn-table will be constantly deflected from the entrance of the trap by the gate, whereupon they will be tumbled over and over on the table until the entrance of the trap is again opened by the release of the trigger 62.

V fhen the apparatus ceases to function, after thirteen recording operations thereof, as effected by a token or coinin the outlet of a coin slot, the dials are reset to and the coin is released from the slot outlet upon the next operation of the coin actuated bars 98, by way of a coin being deposited into an outlet of a slot. To accomplish this, the lower coin actuated bar 98 has projections H9 which respectively engage the free ends of the dial holding dogs 8|, in releasing same from their ratchets of the dials when the bar reaches the end of its forward stroke. When the holding dogs have been released, the dials are urged into their starting positions, back to 0,

by their clock springs 14.

The lower coin actuated bar 98 also has a proiection I38 which, when the bar is about to reach the end of its forward stroke, engages a pin l3! on the coin retaining slide bar I05, and moves same to cause its pins I94 to be retracted out of the path of a coin in the outlet of acoinslot, and whereupon the released coin is then caused to fall into a suitably arranged container I32 disposedin the housing.

It is,-of course, to be understood that the coin actuated bars 98 are retracted after the advancing of a coin into the outlet portion 91 of a coin slot 95 by the coin actuator bar 99 byany suitable means, such as a spring substantially weaker than the spring I83, or a loose connection may be provided between the bars 98 and 99.

It is to be further observed that while the circuit to the operating motors l3 and 5H) is broken at the switch l2! upon completion of thirteen cycles of operation of the apparatus, the circuit is closed through the switch I2! when the dials are reset to zero position upon disengagement of the dogs 8i by projections 52S upon advancing movement of bars 88 at the beginning of a new play. a

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a game apparatus, the combination of a plurality of elements formed to be tumbled each having sides provided with different character indicating formations, means inclusive of a playing surface for tumbling the elements over the surface so as to be urged to a given station, trap means at said station to align the elements in order, and means rendered operable by the elements in the trap and arranged to cooperate with certain formations of the elements respectively for registering the totals of the characters indicated thereby.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the last means comprises electrically operated means having a circuit therefor, and switches included in series connection in the circuit and arranged to be controlled by the elements in the trap respectively.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the last means includes an operated registering device for each character, movable feeler members for engagement with formations of the elements in the trap respectively and each arranged whereby it has different limits of movement by engagement with different formations,

and each feeler member being operably connected with the devices to operate same respectively in its different limits of movement.

4. In a game apparatus, a plurality of elements formed to be tumbled each having sides provided with different character indicating formations respectively, means inclusive of a playing surface for tumbling the elements over the surface so as to urge same to and from a given station thereof, a trap means at said station for the elements having an entrance and an outlet for the elements with operated gate means arranged to alternately open and close the entrance and outlet respectively, and means arranged to be controlled by the elements in the trap for operating the gate means.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4, wherein the last means is arranged to operate the gate means to close the trap entrance and open the outlet after a given time of the trapping of the elements, and including means rendering the operating means inoperative when the gate means is operated to open the trap entrance and close the outlet.

6. The structure as defined in claim 4, wherein the last means comprises electrically operated means having a circuit therefor, and switches in said circuit in series connection and arranged to be closed by the elements in the trap respectively.

7. The structure as defined in claim 4, wherein the'last means is rendered operable by the elements in the trap after a time of the trapping thereof to operate the gate in opening the trap outlet and including means rendering same inoperative when the gate is operated to close the outlet, wherein the operating means includes electrically operated means having a circuit therefor, and a switch in the circuit arranged to be controlled by the gate.

8. Ina game apparatus of the class described, the combination of means forming a trap for elements formed to be tumbled and then trapped with an entrance opening and an outlet opening, gate means arranged to alternately open and close the entrance and outlet respectively, and operating means for the gate means with means rendering same operable when the elements are in the trap.

9. The structure as defined in claim 8, wherein g5 the operating means includes electrically operated means having circuit therefor, and switches in said circuit in series connection and arranged to be controlled by the elements in the trap.

10. The structure as defined in claim 8, including means associated with the operating means for rendering same inoperative when the gate is operated to close the outlet and open the entrance.

11. The structure as defined in claim 8, including means associated with the operating means for rendering same inoperative when the gate is operated to close the outlet and open the entrance, wherein the operating means comprises electrically operated means having a circuit therefor, and wherein the means for rendering the operating means inoperative comprises a'switch in said circuit arranged to be opened by the gate when same is operated to close the outlet.

12. In a game apparatus, the combination of means forming atrap for elements to be tumbled" then trapped and having an entrance opening and an outlet opening, gate means arranged to.

alternately open and close the entrance and outlet respectively, electrically operated operating means for the gate means with a circuit therefor, switches in the circuit arranged to be closed by the elements in the trap in causing the operation of the gate to close the entrance and open the outlet, another switch included in the circuit in bridged relation to-the other switches arranged to be closed by the gate upon closing of the entrance for maintaining the operating means operable to cause the opening of the entrance and closing of the outlet and whereby the said switch is opened by the gate upon the opening of the entrance to render the operating means inoperative.

13. In a game apparatus, the combination of a plurality of character displaying elements formed to be tumbled and having sides provided with apertures differing in depth to be respectively representative of different characters, means to trap the elements so as to position same in a given order, and means arranged to cooperate with certain apertures of the elements respectively for registering the characters represenwtive thereof, said last means including a reciprocable crosshead, a plurality of'feeler pins resiliently mounted on the head and arranged to engage in. certain apertures of the elements in the trap upon a movement of the head whereby their limits of movement are determined by the depth of the apertures. r

14. In a game apparatus, the combination of a character displaying element formed to be tumbled and having sides provided with apertures differing in depth to be respectively representative of different characters, means to trap the element,

aregistering device for each character, a feelerv pin movable into and out of an aperture of the element in the trap, an operator element for the pin arranged to be moved back and forth and operably connected with the pin to effect its said movements at the limits of movement of the operator respectively, and means associated with the operator and pin for establishing an operable connection between the pin and the device of the character represented by the aperture in which the pin is engaged when the'operator is moved in one direction of its movement.

15. In a game apparatus, the combination of a plurality of character displaying elements adapted to be tumbled and each having sides provided with apertures differing in depth to be respectively representative of different characters, means to trap the elements in an orderly arrangement, a

registering device for each character, feeler pins movable into and out of apertures of the elements in the trap respectively, an operator element for the pins arranged to be moved back and forth between limits and being operably connected with the pins to effect their said movements at said limits respectively, and means associated with the operator and pins for successively establishing operable connections between the pins and the devices of the characters represented by the apertures in which ;the pins are engaged to cause operation of the devices when the operator is moved in one direction of its movement.

16. The structure as defined in claim 15, where:- in the trap means comprises means forming an. enclosure with open ends providing an entrance and an outlet, operated gate means arranged to alternately open and close the entrance and outlet respectively, and said operator being operably connected to the gate means to cause same to open the outlet at one limit of its movement and to cause same to close the outlet after a given time of its movement from said limit.

17. The structure as defined in claim 15, including means rendered operable by the elements in the trap for operating the operator element.

18. The structure as defined in claim 15, wherein the trap means comprises means forming an enclosure with open ends providing an entrance and an outlet, operated gate means arranged to alternately open and close the entrance and outlet respectively, said operator being operably connected to the gate means to cause same to open the outlet at one limit of its movement and to cause same to close the outlet after a given time of its movement from said limit, and operating means for the operator element with control means rendering same operable when the elements are in the trap and to render same inoperative when the gate means is operated to close the outlet.'

19. In afgame apparatus, the combination of a pluralityof score registering devices, means for operating the devices from startingpositions, the devices having releasable means to restore same to starting positions, a coin slot head having a coin slot for each device with means controlled by a coin when advanced in a slot to render its=respec-' tive device operable, unitary means for advancing the coins in the slots, and means controlled upon acoin being advanced in a slot for releasing the releasable means of the devices.

20. In a game apparatus, the combination with an element formed to be. tumbled having sides provided with different character "indicating means, of operated means inclusive of a playing surface for intermittently causing the element to tumble over the surface whereby it is caused. to display a side at intervals, operating means for the operated means, means for registering the number of times a side is displayed including an operated registering device for each character, a coin slot head'having a coin slot for each device, and means cooperating with a coin in'a slot to control the operation of its respective device and the operating means.

21. The structure as defined inclaim 20, wherein the last means comprises means for cooperating with acoin when advanced in a slot to render its respective device and the operating means operable, and including cycle control means for the operating means arranged to maintain the operating means operable for a given number of said intervals and being arranged to render the devices inoperative after a given number of intervals the element is caused to display a side.

22. In a game apparatus, in combination, a tumblable element having sides provided With different characters, a playing surface for tumbling the element, means for confining the element against movement after having been tumbled, a vertically movable feeler pin, means on the sides of the element representative of the characters on the respective opposite sides for limiting the vertical movement of the feeler pin, indicating means for the characters on the respective sides of the element, and connections between the feeler pin and indicating means for operating the latter in accordance with the vertical position of the feeler pin.

23. In a game apparatus, in combination, a plurality of tumblable elements having sides provided with different characters, a rotatable playing surface for tumbling the elements, a trapfor confining the elements after having been tumbled, a plurality of vertically movable feeler pins, means on the sides of the elements representative of the characters on the respective opposite sides for governing the vertical position of the feeler pins when the elements are confined in the trap, an indicator for each of the characters on the elements, electrically operated means including vertically spaced horizontally movable con tacts, and circuit closing means operable by the vertically movable feeler pins for effecting operation of the indicators.

24. In a game apparatus, a die provided with an aperture in each of five sides thereof, the apertures varying in depth in accordance with the numbers appearing on the respective opposite sides of the die.

25. In a game apparatus, a plurality of tumblable elements having sides provided with different characters, a rotatable playing surface for tumbling the elements, means for rotating the playing surface, means for periodically confining the elements against tumbling by the rotatable playing surface, an indicator for each of the characters on the elements, means operative by the elements when confined for efiecting operation of the indicators in accordance with the relative positions of the characters thereon, and means for rendering the playing surface operating means inoperative after the elements have been tumbled a predetermined number of times.

26. In a game apparatus, the combination with an element formed to be tumbledhaving sides provided with different character-indicating means, of operated means inclusive of a playing surface for intermittently causing the element to tumble over the surface whereby it is caused to display a side at intervals, operating means for the operated means, means for registering the number of times a side is displayed including an operated registering device for each character, and selective means to control the operation of the respective devices and the operating means.

27. In a game apparatus, the combination of a plurality of elements each having sides provided with different characters, a motor driven rotatable playing surface for intermittently tumbling the elements, trap means for intermittently restraining the elements, registers operatively asso ciated with the elements when restrained by the trap means for indicating the number of times each of the respective characters is displayed, a cycle register for indicating the number of times the elements have been restrained, a coin slot head having a coin slot for each of the first mentioned registers, means for advancing a coin in any one of the slots, means cooperating with a coin when advanced within any one of the slots for controlling the operation of the respective registers, and means operable by the cycle register for breaking the circuit to the playing surface driving motor when the elements have been restrained a predetermined number of times.

28. The structure defined in claim 2'7, wherein the coin advancing means includes means for resetting all of the registers to starting position and releasing the last played coin from its slot upon another coin being advanced for a new play.

WILLIAM R. EDGEWOR'IH. 

